Giacomo Puccini created operas that can be seen again and again, and the arias from these masterpieces constitute a canon of world music.
It's true that this is a cliché, a trendy word these days (incorrectly translated as "cliché").
But when this opera is performed at the Staadsoper Unter der Linden in Berlin, it becomes an event. When this production involves such world-famous stars as Aleksandra Kurzak* and Piotr Beczała**, the performances are bound to be a resounding success.
We managed to secure tickets and participated in this extraordinary event.
The terrible weather – thick fog and drizzle – didn't stop us from traveling the 150 km to the center of Berlin, and the tiring return journey was rewarded by the recollection of what we witnessed on stage.
I wrote about the theater itself here after December 5, 2025. You can learn the content of Tosca by reading Wikipedia, but no one will describe the performance of our great artists:
Piotr Beczała, after finishing the aria "E lucevan le stelle" (And the stars shone), was forced to perform an encore after several minutes of applause!! The encore was moving – I had tears in my eyes! I'd never before attended an opera performance where the artist performed an encore aria because the audience wouldn't let him continue.
Believe me, it made a huge impression.
Aleksandra Kurzak, in the powerful role of Tosca, was rewarded several times during the performance with several minutes of applause, reinforced by shouts of admiration from the audience.
The final bows lasted over fifteen minutes!
*Aleksandra Kurzak. A world-class Polish soprano, she has successfully performed the title role in Giacomo Puccini's opera "Tosca" on major stages around the world and in Poland. In 2024, she performed in the Wrocław Opera's acclaimed production alongside her husband, tenor Roberto Alagna (as Cavaradossi). Kurzak made her Metropolitan Opera debut in this role, and her interpretation is praised for its emotional depth.
**Piotr Beczała, the great Polish tenor, made his debut as Cavaradossi in Puccini's "Tosca" at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Our performance took place on February 11, 2026.
Here's a video of Placido Domino singing a moving aria:
From Tosca
